Corvette Past
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
St. Jude Donor '08
For me, it was just that I outgrew the whole racing thing for a while. When I was 20, I had more money than sense ... I had both a Supercharged TransAm and a new Viper back in 2000. After seeing a friend wreck on the Gandy bridge (a former popular racing spot in the Tampa area) and end up in the hospital for two weeks, that was pretty much the push I needed to get out of the street racing scene.
Right around then I totally lost interest in the racing scene, but since I was still a motorsports junkie one way or another I figured I'd get into off-roading instead. I got rid of the TA and the Viper, but kept my 81 vette - at the time the only reason I kept it was because I had put so much time into it. The other cars I just had money in and didn't really care, but the vette was an investment in time - bought a $4,400 junker and turned it into a like-new beauty and I just couldn't part with it.
I ended up getting a Jeep Wrangler as my DD and kept the vette just to have a nice car to go out on dates in, it was always my favorite anyway. About a year later I heard about someone who was selling a fully restored 68 427/390 vert and ended up buying that. I've had all 3 cars ever since. Then last year I met some people that were racing and would rent the track for a day just to run their own cars around and figured I'd get into it again, so I picked up the 80 L-82 to build into a track car. Of course now I have 3 kids and more sense than money, so it's a much slower project now than it would have been when I was 20.
I don't really know what it is about the C3 where I just keep coming back to them. They're just timeless like that, and that sets them apart from every other car out there - even the other Corvettes. The chrome-bumper cars are nothing but class, and the 80-82's just have this look about them that's both classic and modern at the same time. I don't think I'll ever sell any of my vettes, and I probably won't ever sell the Jeep either. When you find what you like, you stay with it.
Right around then I totally lost interest in the racing scene, but since I was still a motorsports junkie one way or another I figured I'd get into off-roading instead. I got rid of the TA and the Viper, but kept my 81 vette - at the time the only reason I kept it was because I had put so much time into it. The other cars I just had money in and didn't really care, but the vette was an investment in time - bought a $4,400 junker and turned it into a like-new beauty and I just couldn't part with it.
I ended up getting a Jeep Wrangler as my DD and kept the vette just to have a nice car to go out on dates in, it was always my favorite anyway. About a year later I heard about someone who was selling a fully restored 68 427/390 vert and ended up buying that. I've had all 3 cars ever since. Then last year I met some people that were racing and would rent the track for a day just to run their own cars around and figured I'd get into it again, so I picked up the 80 L-82 to build into a track car. Of course now I have 3 kids and more sense than money, so it's a much slower project now than it would have been when I was 20.
I don't really know what it is about the C3 where I just keep coming back to them. They're just timeless like that, and that sets them apart from every other car out there - even the other Corvettes. The chrome-bumper cars are nothing but class, and the 80-82's just have this look about them that's both classic and modern at the same time. I don't think I'll ever sell any of my vettes, and I probably won't ever sell the Jeep either. When you find what you like, you stay with it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,082
Likes: 3,353
From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
We've been married since '81....
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: forest park il
44 04z16, 75 coupe. have owned 82coupe,85coupe,91coupe,90vert,93rubycou pe,78 pace car ,78 anniversary, 65 vert, 3 96collector coupes,96 lt4 coupe, 91vert,01z06,04z06,02z06,04vert,04z16,05 coupe,95coupe
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 17
From: Fl
45 years old 
The only Vette is my current - 1972 454 car.
Other cars ....
1970 RT Challenger - 440 six pack (got while in HS - rael #s car too!)
1970 GTX, 440 magnum
1970 RT/SE Challenger 383 magnum
AND -
I was inches way from buying a real 70 Hemi Challenger - but I could not convince my dad or uncle to loan me the 5100.00 dollars the guy wanted for it.
I was only 19 going on 20, this was 1982-83. 5100 was a good bit of money. Both my dad and uncle said the car would never be worth anythimg ( WRONG!).
Plus a bunch of other "tree beater" cars along the way...
The only Vette is my current - 1972 454 car.
Other cars ....
1970 RT Challenger - 440 six pack (got while in HS - rael #s car too!)
1970 GTX, 440 magnum
1970 RT/SE Challenger 383 magnum
AND -
I was inches way from buying a real 70 Hemi Challenger - but I could not convince my dad or uncle to loan me the 5100.00 dollars the guy wanted for it.
I was only 19 going on 20, this was 1982-83. 5100 was a good bit of money. Both my dad and uncle said the car would never be worth anythimg ( WRONG!).
Plus a bunch of other "tree beater" cars along the way...
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Hopefully I will turn 54 this summer!
72 base T-top Coupe
74 CRAZY 454 Vert
70 GMC 350/300 C1500
Dad's 60
72 base T-top Coupe
74 CRAZY 454 Vert
70 GMC 350/300 C1500
Dad's 60
Last edited by fotyfobravo; Feb 25, 2008 at 07:12 PM. Reason: spelling
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,998
Likes: 3,373
From: NYC NY
I'm 54
74 coupe / auto
76 coupe / 4 speed
67 convertible / 4 speed was a 435 car but motor and tri-power were long gone as well as the original color
78 Pace Car L82 / 4 speed
86 coupe / 4+3
all past tense - current:
68 convertible project under construction
74 coupe / auto
76 coupe / 4 speed
67 convertible / 4 speed was a 435 car but motor and tri-power were long gone as well as the original color
78 Pace Car L82 / 4 speed
86 coupe / 4+3
all past tense - current:
68 convertible project under construction
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I have only had one, my 1980, I keep doing things to it each year to make it better, I will never sell it. 
For some reason my bullsheetometer is pegged out on this thread
For some reason my bullsheetometer is pegged out on this thread
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
66 for awhile longer...
Current:
'07 Velocity Red ZO6 Factory ordered. Delivered 12-28-06
http://www.myruffhouse.com/2007_corvette_z06.htm
'69 Riverside Gold convert. Second owner, bought in Aug. '70 with 2,500 miles still smelled new.
http://www.myruffhouse.com/1969_corvette.htm
Gone:
'86 White Z51 coupe Sold when I retired.
http://www.myruffhouse.com/1986_Corvette.htm
'01 Torch Red ZO6 Sold to make room for new Z
http://www.myruffhouse.com/2001_corvette_z06.htm
Cheers,
Pete
Current:
'07 Velocity Red ZO6 Factory ordered. Delivered 12-28-06
http://www.myruffhouse.com/2007_corvette_z06.htm
'69 Riverside Gold convert. Second owner, bought in Aug. '70 with 2,500 miles still smelled new.
http://www.myruffhouse.com/1969_corvette.htm
Gone:
'86 White Z51 coupe Sold when I retired.
http://www.myruffhouse.com/1986_Corvette.htm
'01 Torch Red ZO6 Sold to make room for new Z
http://www.myruffhouse.com/2001_corvette_z06.htm
Cheers,
Pete
Last edited by PeteZO6; Feb 4, 2008 at 08:48 PM. Reason: added information
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
34 years old,
71 Coupe...still have
76 Coupe...still have
88 coupe..still have
the only vettes I have ever owned, I still have. And with my lack of time and money, its two too many.......nahhhhhhhh!!!!
71 Coupe...still have
76 Coupe...still have
88 coupe..still have
the only vettes I have ever owned, I still have. And with my lack of time and money, its two too many.......nahhhhhhhh!!!!
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 54,015
Likes: 6,215
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
51. Have right now: '58 Signet red 4 spd, '69 triple black roadster and '03 Milleneum Yellow bought new convertible.
Previous: '65 triple black 396 roadster, '68 silver roadster, '73 black L82 coupe, '73 white coupe, '77 black L82 coupe, '80 black, '85 black, '81 black convertible conversion, '86 red convertible, '63 Ermine white TPI convertible with stored original motor, '94 black driver, '63 silver split window.
Previous: '65 triple black 396 roadster, '68 silver roadster, '73 black L82 coupe, '73 white coupe, '77 black L82 coupe, '80 black, '85 black, '81 black convertible conversion, '86 red convertible, '63 Ermine white TPI convertible with stored original motor, '94 black driver, '63 silver split window.
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